Previewin' the B1G: Michigan

It’s a make-or-break year for the Michigan football program. The Wolverines haven’t won a Big Ten championship since 2004, with large swaths of mediocrity filling the past 15 years.

For head coach Brady Hoke, January could bring a different job. His win totals have dropped from 11 to eight to seven. Dave Brandon, Michigan’s unpopular athletic director, is already dealing with declining attendance. If the man he hired to return Michigan football to prominence flounders, even more venom will reign down on Brandon.

And then there’s Devin Gardner, the person who can make everything return to normalcy in Ann Arbor – or be the cause of more consternation. Many believed Gardner was set for a breakout year after taking over for Denard Robinson during the second half of 2012. But it never materialized last season. Despite all the gaudy statistics, there were still shortcomings in his game.

In the spring, Hoke said Gardner and backup Shane Morris were competing for the starting job. It acted as more of a warning to Gardner than anything. He’ll be Michigan’s starting quarterback. And he’ll do so at 100 percent health.

After a Herculean effort against Ohio State – 32-of-45 passing for 451 yards and four touchdowns – Gardner sat out the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl with a broken foot. Any lingering pain is gone. Now, it’s just about improving his accuracy and limiting turnovers.

That didn’t happen in the spring game, when Gardner threw an interception on his first pass. He finished the game completing just two of 10 passes for 53 yards, with 44 coming on a single play. It didn’t sully Hoke’s impression, though.

“I think Devin had, really, a pretty good spring," Hoke said. “He became more consistent on a daily basis, I guess, is the best way to put it. He’s always been kind of a football junkie, but I think he’s worked at it more so this spring.”

There are two major factors at play in 2014: a new offensive coordinator and the same porous offensive line.

2014 Schedule

Date

Opponent

8/30

Appalachian State

9/6

@ Notre Dame

9/13

Miami (Ohio)

9/20

Utah

9/27

Minnesota

10/4

@ Rutgers

10/11

Penn State

10/25

@ Michigan State

11/1

Indiana (HC)

11/8

at Northwestern

11/22

Maryland

11/29

@ Ohio State

Doug Nussmeier comes from Alabama with a large quantity of credibility and his game plan for Gardner is similar to what he did with A.J. McCarron. There will be reduced quarterback runs with a focus on limiting hits.

“That’s what Coach Nuss is always talking about even when we have read plays where I’ll read the defensive end,” Gardner said. “It used to be if it’s a question, we’ll take it and go. Now if it’s a question, we want the running back to hold the ball and to continue to run.

“The threat is always going to be there. I feel like that’s going to keep defenses honest. I’m pretty sure they have me on film running before. I feel comfortable with it. It keeps me a little healthy toward the end of the season.”

While Michigan’s offensive struggles were well documenting, the firing of Al Borges still came as a shock. Hoke is immensely loyal to assistants, and he and Borges’ history went back to San Diego State. But the level of offensive ineptitude demanded a change.

With Nussmeier, the Wolverines have a no-nonsense coach with a history of producing national-championship offenses. There’s a lot of Nick Saban in Nussmeier. A play might gain 12 yards, but that doesn’t mean there will be a smile on his face or any hint of satisfaction.

Don’t think Gardner isn’t aware this is his fifth and final season in maize and blue – he does. Leaving a positive legacy is something that drives the immensely competitive Gardner. Whether the offensive line keeps him upright could determine how many wins Michigan has in 2014.

Taylor Lewan and Michael Schofield, the Wolverines’ top two linemen on a woeful unit a year ago, are gone. The line’s collapse down the stretch was a contributor in Michigan’s 1-5 record in its last six games. No other team gave up more tackles for loss than Michigan.

It trickled into the run game, where the Wolverines only averaged 125 yards per game. Back-to-back games of negative rushing yards in November represented rock bottom.

“We know we don’t have the option to not get better,” guard Kyle Kalis said. “It’s getting to that point where we can’t really say we’re young anymore, because next year, no one is going to want to hear that. So we have to all come together.”

Running backs Derrick Green, De’Veon Smith and Justice Hayes and wide receiver Devin Funchess should help elevate what was the nation’s 86th-ranked offense last season.

The defense is also eyeing improvement, though Greg Mattison’s unit was better than perceived. When paired with an offense that didn’t put them in great position, the Wolverines tended to wilt. But a wealth of experience returns.

“The thing that people don’t realize is that so many of our kids played at a young age and with that is why you lose games by a separation of 11 points,” Mattison said. “But now these are kids who are veterans, and they’ve had a lot of experience. That’s going to be a positive thing for us.”

Jake Ryan, Frank Clark and Blake Countess are the headliners. Many believe five-star cornerback Jabrill Peppers could be an immediate impact player.

Mattison is a believer in the entire unit.

“The thing that I’m excited about is watching our kids work out this summer – they remind me of the old Michigan groups that we had,” Mattison said, referring the teams from 1992-96, during his first stint at Michigan. “The thing that’s exciting is that there’s competition at every position.”

Comments

I know this says a lot about me, but it's almost impossible for me to not chuckle at the expression or mention of a dumpster fire, when it's used in comparison to a team or situation. I think this pic may have trumped dumpster fire with me.

My prediction (though you probably did not hear it here first): 2015 will bring both a new coach and a new AD at UM.

The original excuse for Hoke's performance was that he inherited Rich Rod's guys. But his record has gone downhill each year as more of "his" guys came into the program. This despite having some really good recruiting classes. Could it be that (gasp!) Hoke is a poor coach, even though he is a "Michigan Man"? I think the UM faithful are coming to that realization, and in 2015 even AD Brandon will get the message and see the need for action. Brandon fires Hoke, then after the search concludes the Regents fire Brandon. And the UM football program enjoys 2 more years of upset and mediocrity!

Looking at that schedule 7-5 might be a stretch. They would have to beat Minn and Indiana. I thought it was just Michigan bashing when some of the recent post put Hoke on the hot seat but this this might be it for him. Some of the players could transfer with no more barbecues. He definitely cHOKEd up there.

I'm with Mort. Best case scenario is Hoke wins about 10 games.Beats MSU and loses by 1 pt. in Columbus and guarantees himself another 3 years. I just cant envision it happening though as much as I try.

I remember...that's what all those fans were saying after his first year. Not so much now. I'll be in the minority on this, but I think they'll be a decent team this year. However, I think if Hike loses to both MSU & UM, he's gone..

"Do not pass me, just slow down - I can move right through you" Superchunk - Precision Auto.

Looking at their schedule the only predictable wins are Appy State and Miami (OH). Scum is terrible on the road under (c)hoke, thus their game in Piscataway on 10/4 is not a gimme. The other road games: ND, MSU, NW, OSU I see them being underdogs, thus losses. At worst scum will be 2-10; at best 4-8. The 2 possible wins (in addition to the "guaranteed wins) will come as a combination between Utah, Rutgers, PSU, IN, MD. GO BUCKS1111

I know it's not a popular opinion around here, but I'd prefer that TTUN was good and The Game was always close - if they came into The Game at 10-0 or 9-1 every year it would make the rivalry a lot more interesting and get the bucks a lot more out-of-conference respect. Look how interesting the SCAR-Clemson rivalry game has been lately, or the 06 'Game of the Century'. I mean, I wouldn't ever root for them in the earlier games of the season, but I'd like it if Hoke got fired and replaced with a reasonably good coach.

In the meantime I'm not worried about The Game though. I think Tosubuckeye is on the right track with their prediction, something like 2-5 wins.

As bad as they were they embarrassed us last November. Inexcusable for such a sorry soft team. That was not a good football team . Not a traditional Michigan team. Tressel would have blown them out of the water. Urban has much to prove.

I just wonder how many years Fat Joke-Hoke gets to have average seasons. Dick Rod was on a short leash and Joke isn't doing too much better. And - when he gets canned, I do believe Brandon will be sent packing, too. The lack of butts in the seats cannot all be blamed on Brady Cheeseburger.

The odds are that I'm in the minority here, but I would really enjoy being alive to see Michigan become relevant in football again. For the sake of our conference. Better yet, for the sake of our rivalry. OSU-Mich didn't become the best rivalry in sports by Ohio State laying a beat down on Michigan year after year after year. The Ten Years War, where it was an arms race between Woody and Bo and the 2 schools were on relatively even playing field were what made this rivalry so special. At this point its hard for Michigan to have a single successful season, let alone ten of them back to back. That needs to change in my opinion.

While I think TTUN could actually be a decent squad this year, I still will watch and hope they lose every game. Ohio State doesn't need them to be good. If the Buckeyes take care of business throughout the year and then play/beat a solid team in the B1G championship game, which I'm assuming will be a 10-11 win Sconsin team, our boys should be in the playoffs and then after that, it's all in their hands.

"I've had smarter people around me all my life, but I haven't run into one yet that can outwork me. And if they can't outwork you, then smarts aren't going to do them much good." - Woody Hayes

I think 2015 is the real make or break year for Hoke at Michigan. 2014 could be the make or break year for OL coach Funk. If he can't make the line (even though it's still young) at least respectable, he's got to go. Michigan has maybe the biggest weapon in the B1G on offense with Funchess, a good, experienced QB, and will have a good to good + defense. It really boils down to the basics of football - blocking. If this unity can't block again, it's going to be a long year. If they can do even an average job, 8-9 wins is realistic.

I believe that Jim Harbaugh will eventually be the head football coach at that despicable school - and at that point, they will be formidable again. In the meantime, we should root hard for the 49ers, and hope that Hoke gets enough wins to make Brandon hang on to him.

That opinion is based on the fact that NFL teams change coaches like you and I change underwear. One bad season for the 49ers combined with a 6-6 scUM team could very well mean that Harbaugh would be available. If I were the Corn and Bruised, I would throw whatever money I had to at Harbaugh in order to get him to AA. Last I checked, money still talks loudly.

Les Miles in AA? I'm all for it, but he's got a good thing going on in Baton Rouge. I don't see him leaving there. But that would sure make news conferences more interesting. :)